❓ The Minister for Transport outlines ongoing road works in the Pilbara, highlighting projects supporting freight connectivity, safety, and major developments like the Perdaman project and Lumsden Point port expansion. The Minister also defends the government's focus on regional engagement against perceived criticism.
AnsweredQoN 510Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ROADS — PILBARA
510. Mr K.J.J. MICHEL to the Minister for Transport:
I
refer to the Cook Labor government's record investment in road upgrades
and improvements in the Pilbara region.
(1) Can the minister
outline any works underway to improve freight connectivity and safety
improvements on our regional roads?
(2) Can the
minister advise what this investment in Pilbara roads means for local jobs,
businesses and the community?
510. Mr K.J.J. MICHEL to the Minister for Transport:
I
refer to the Cook Labor government's record investment in road upgrades
and improvements in the Pilbara region.
(1) Can the minister
outline any works underway to improve freight connectivity and safety
improvements on our regional roads?
(2) Can the
minister advise what this investment in Pilbara roads means for local jobs,
businesses and the community?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I
thank the member for the Pilbara for his question. I, too, was in the Pilbara
on the weekend with my cabinet colleagues to look at the incredible projects
that are underway through the Pilbara. In relation to roads, there are a number of key projects underway. There are works on
the Burrup Peninsula road that are supporting, as the Premier outlined,
a major new project for Western Australia. The multibillion-dollar Perdaman
project will create more jobs in the future and supply a product that will
reduce our need for imports and replace many of the fertiliser imports that are
coming into Australia. It is an incredible project.
We
are working to support that project through our road improvements on the
ground. The work on two new intersections is nearly complete and that
will support both the construction and operation of the new Perdaman plant. We
visited Lumsden Point to see another project we are delivering. It is a new
interchange to support new port facilities at Pilbara Ports' Lumsden
Point. It will see the ability to export a number of new products. It will
increase our ability to direct ships into South-East Asia and will support our
renewable energy and hydrogen policies on how we can facilitate development in
that area.
I know the member for Pilbara and the
Premier visited the new overtaking lanes that are being built on Great Northern
Highway. I understand there has been massive feedback from the Newman community
about the safety improvements of the 11 overtaking lanes. We have a number of
new overtaking lanes, together with new rest-stop areas for trucks and truck
drivers, and new facilities to support the freight industry throughout the
area. There are overtaking lanes, new intersections to
support port expansions and new improvements to support a major new facility
through the Pilbara.
I was quite interested in today's
first question. The Leader of the Nationals WA asked why the Premier was in
regional WA and not at a city event. The modern ''MetroNats''
believe that the Premier of the day should not visit regional WA. Looking at
their diaries, they would prioritise a city event over being in the regions. A
former member of Parliament attended our community town forum on Sunday. Do
members know what he was thinking? He was thinking, ''My goodness. This
is a government that visits the regions and engages with local people and
delivers in the regions—the whole government and cabinet does that.''
Member, I was quite astounded by that first question—that the Leader of
the Opposition believes that the Premier of WA should not be in regional WA.
Maybe that happened in the government he was a part of, but this government
prioritises regional visits and engaging with regional local communities.
thank the member for the Pilbara for his question. I, too, was in the Pilbara
on the weekend with my cabinet colleagues to look at the incredible projects
that are underway through the Pilbara. In relation to roads, there are a number of key projects underway. There are works on
the Burrup Peninsula road that are supporting, as the Premier outlined,
a major new project for Western Australia. The multibillion-dollar Perdaman
project will create more jobs in the future and supply a product that will
reduce our need for imports and replace many of the fertiliser imports that are
coming into Australia. It is an incredible project.
We
are working to support that project through our road improvements on the
ground. The work on two new intersections is nearly complete and that
will support both the construction and operation of the new Perdaman plant. We
visited Lumsden Point to see another project we are delivering. It is a new
interchange to support new port facilities at Pilbara Ports' Lumsden
Point. It will see the ability to export a number of new products. It will
increase our ability to direct ships into South-East Asia and will support our
renewable energy and hydrogen policies on how we can facilitate development in
that area.
I know the member for Pilbara and the
Premier visited the new overtaking lanes that are being built on Great Northern
Highway. I understand there has been massive feedback from the Newman community
about the safety improvements of the 11 overtaking lanes. We have a number of
new overtaking lanes, together with new rest-stop areas for trucks and truck
drivers, and new facilities to support the freight industry throughout the
area. There are overtaking lanes, new intersections to
support port expansions and new improvements to support a major new facility
through the Pilbara.
I was quite interested in today's
first question. The Leader of the Nationals WA asked why the Premier was in
regional WA and not at a city event. The modern ''MetroNats''
believe that the Premier of the day should not visit regional WA. Looking at
their diaries, they would prioritise a city event over being in the regions. A
former member of Parliament attended our community town forum on Sunday. Do
members know what he was thinking? He was thinking, ''My goodness. This
is a government that visits the regions and engages with local people and
delivers in the regions—the whole government and cabinet does that.''
Member, I was quite astounded by that first question—that the Leader of
the Opposition believes that the Premier of WA should not be in regional WA.
Maybe that happened in the government he was a part of, but this government
prioritises regional visits and engaging with regional local communities.
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